General dentistry
Root canal treatment
A root canal saves a tooth whose nerve is infected or dying. With modern numbing, most patients say it feels like having a long filling.
- Time in the chair
- 60–90 minutes
- Visits
- One, sometimes two
- Numbing
- Yes, local
- Typical cost
- $700–$1,500, crown separate
What it is
Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, which holds the nerve and blood supply. A deep cavity, a crack or an old injury can let bacteria reach it. When the pulp is infected you may feel a throbbing ache, pain when you bite, or sensitivity to hot that lingers. Sometimes you feel nothing and we see it on an X-ray.
In a root canal we clean the infected tissue out of the inside of the tooth, disinfect the narrow canals in its roots, and seal them. The tooth stays in your mouth. The alternative is taking the tooth out, which usually means an implant or a bridge to fill the gap.
Most back teeth need a crown afterward to protect them from cracking. We tell you before we start whether yours will.
Who does this here
Dr. Renata Alcott
Dr. Meera SethiWhat to expect, step by step
Confirming the problem
We take an X-ray and run a couple of quick tests (a little cold on the tooth, a gentle tap) to be certain which tooth it is and that a root canal is the right fix.
Getting properly numb
Numbing gel first, then local anaesthetic. An infected tooth can be stubborn to numb, so we test it before we start and add more if needed. You won’t be rushed.
Opening the tooth
A small rubber sheet goes around the tooth to keep it clean and dry. We make a small opening in the top of the tooth to reach the canals.
Cleaning the canals
Fine instruments clean and shape each canal, with rinses to disinfect. This is the long part. You will feel pressure, not pain; plenty of patients listen to a podcast or doze.
Sealing the tooth
The canals are filled with a rubber-like material and sealed, with a filling on top. If the infection was heavy, we may place medicine inside and finish at a second visit a week or two later.
Protecting it
If the tooth needs a crown, we book that for two to four weeks later.
How long it takes
Front teeth usually take about an hour. Molars, with three or four canals, take 90 minutes or so.
Expect the tooth to be tender for two to four days, like a bruise. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually handles it. Most people go back to work the next day, many the same afternoon. Avoid chewing hard food on that side until the final filling or crown is on.
What it costs
$700–$1,500
Typical U.S. range, per tooth for the root canal, before insurance
Most patients pay somewhere in this range. Your exact cost depends on which tooth it is (front teeth have one canal, molars three or four) and how complicated the canals are. The crown that usually follows is separate, typically $1,050–$2,350.
Most PPO plans cover root canals at 50–80% after your deductible, up to your plan’s annual maximum.
This is a guide, not our fee and not a quote. After your exam you get a written estimate, and we check your insurance, before anything starts. Call (602) 555-0148 for a quote. Where these ranges come from.
Questions patients ask
Is a root canal painful?
The procedure itself shouldn’t be, because the tooth is numb. The pain people remember is usually the infection beforehand. Treatment is what takes that pain away.
Will you send me to a specialist?
We do most root canals here. For an unusual tooth (very curved or narrowed canals, or redoing an old root canal) we refer you to an endodontist we work with, and tell you why.
How to book
Use our request form and we’ll call you back within one business day to pick a time, or call us now on (602) 555-0148. Tell us it’s for root canals and we’ll book the right length of visit.